.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

[Formidilosus]

View attachment 613943

100% positive

Velocity was running about 2,710-2,720 during load workup with Alliant 2000MR

Was right around 2,700 when I re-checked zero two days ago (colder weather may account for that, or just normal SD, or both?)

Impact should have been right around 2,000 fps or a bit above per Strelok and drop was right on per Strelok as well. No way it could have been sub-1,600 impact.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it; you have magnitudes more experience with results than I do. I was wondering if I overestimated what I'd seen in all the pics, or it really was less than typical.

Appreciate the confirmation. While that wound is still certainly effective, I believe you will find that it was an outlier and they tend to be quite a bit more destructive.

 

[Wrangler13]

Got some 69grn tmk loaded up for the Kimber today. Shot pretty close to the point of impact the 62grn ttsx were shooting to. Anyone word on how the 69 compare to the 77?

 

[Pharmseller]

.223 not legal for elk in Oregon.

Deer, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope yes.

No elk, bighorn sheep, or Rocky Mountain goat.

 

[Tmac]

.223 not legal for elk in Oregon.

Deer, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope yes.

No elk, bighorn sheep, or Rocky Mountain goat.

Just get a fast twist .243 bore. I just got a 6ARC in a Howa Mini action.

 

[Pharmseller]

Just get a fast twist .243 bore. I just got a 6ARC in a Howa Mini action.

I hunt with the Mighty 7mm-08.



P

 

[PNWGATOR]

.223 not legal for elk in Oregon.

Deer, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope yes.

No elk, bighorn sheep, or Rocky Mountain goat.

You live in a bad place.

 

[JPeters218]

You guys really have me debating re-barreling my .308 before I even shot anything with it. To pair with my 6 creed

 

[PNWGATOR]

You guys really have me debating re-barreling my .308 before I even shot anything with it. To pair with my 6 creed

Don’t do that.

Everyone needs a .308 too.

Just budget for and buy a .223.

 

[atmat]

You guys really have me debating re-barreling my .308 before I even shot anything with it. To pair with my 6 creed

You’d be re-barreling and looking to trade bolts. That’s a lot of work when a new stainless 223 can be had for $770 new.

 

[Hoosker Doo]

Well done and thank you for sharing your experience!

It’s funny how bullets work.

Had a good friend kill a 6x6 today with a 175 ELDX out of a 7PRC at 228 yards. He shot the bull three times. Twice through the lungs and once through the heart. Not a single projectile exited. Not a single drop of blood.

What did the elk do? I'm just curious because I've had great success with the 162 gr ELD X.

And from what I've seen in this thread, wouldn't you expect similar performance from the TMK of no exit and not much blood trail, but (the possible exception depending on what your friend found) total destruction inside?

(Honest questions - no hostility implied at all)

 

[JPeters218]

You’d be re-barreling and looking to trade bolts. That’s a lot of work when a new stainless 223 can be had for $770 new.

Good point, I would’ve figured that out when the time came. Just meant replace essentially

 

[PNWGATOR]

What did the elk do? I'm just curious because I've had great success with the 162 gr ELD X.

And from what I've seen in this thread, wouldn't you expect similar performance from the TMK of no exit and not much blood trail, but (the possible exception depending on what your friend found) total destruction inside?

(Honest questions - no hostility implied at all)

Elk was dead on it’s feet and he kept shooting.

Similar performance with a 223?

Maybe.

However, if it’d continued to stand there it’d have been shot more than three times.

Guess my only point is that bullets matter.

 

[Hoosker Doo]

Similar performance with a 223?

Maybe.

Obviously size and velocity make a difference but after seeing @sargent 's bull, overall similar performance.

Guess my only point is that bullets matter.

Exactly, that's why I was dreading the ELD-X failure story that went along with it because that's what I've chosen to use for my larger calibers, and have been happy with the performance for the last few years.

 

[xrangerx]

.223 not legal for elk in Oregon.

Deer, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope yes.

No elk, bighorn sheep, or Rocky Mountain goat.

Not legal for anything other than Cougar in WA I believe

 

[Pharmseller]

Not legal for anything other than Cougar in WA I believe

Dang, you’re right, I just looked it up.



P

 

[DJL2]

The mighty 7mm-08 can still push the 160 TMK… when you need it REALLY dead. ;-)

I might be wrong, but I think 6.5 and the 130 TMK is the smallest you can go and be 50 state legal.

 

[The Guide]

The mighty 7mm-08 can still push the 160 TMK… when you need it REALLY dead. ;-)

I might be wrong, but I think 6.5 and the 130 TMK is the smallest you can go and be 50 state legal.

Some eastern states with "novel" elk herds require .270 caliber minimum.

Jay

 

[Axlrod]

Good point, I would’ve figured that out when the time came. Just meant replace essentially

You could re-barrel to a 22 Bench Rest, and use your existing bolt. The 22 BR should be able to get to 3100 fps with 77 gr. bullets.

 

[HandgunHTR]

You could re-barrel to a 22 Bench Rest, and use your existing bolt. The 22 BR should be able to get to 3100 fps with 77 gr. bullets.

Or .22 Creedmoor. However, I would just stick with the .308 and buy a .223.

 

[atmat]

The beauty in the 223 isn’t just that it’s low-recoil and capable of killing elk. It’s that ammo is incredibly cheap and barrel life is long, so you can train with it year round in high volume without significant rebarreling costs.

While the 22BR and 22creed are awesome cartridges, you loose those other benefits.